A Florida Democratic congressional candidate alleged Monday that a political candidate she once endorsed showed her his penis during a car ride.
Miami Beach City Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez accused Rafael Velsaquez, a progressive activist running for city commissioner, of taking out his penis and trying to get her to touch it as the pair came back from a dinner, Politico reported.
“I was ‘Harvey Weinsteined’ by Rafael Velasquez, the candidate I have been supporting and raising money for in the Miami Beach commission race,” Rosen Gonzalez alleged to POLITICO Florida via text. Velsaquez has staunchly denied the accusations, saying Rosen Gonzalez is making the claims for attention as she is running for congressional office.
Rosen Gonzalez came forward at the bidding of one of her friends, she told the outlet. The incident between the pair happened two weeks ago when Velsaquez stopped by her house after canvassing, Rosen Gonzalez alleged. Feeling uncomfortable with him in the house, she suggested the two go to a restaurant for dinner, she said.
The two had some drinks at the restaurant and in the car ride home, Velsaquez pulled out his penis and urged Rosen Gonzalez to put her hands on it, she alleged.
“He took it out. I tried not to look. I saw it out of the corner of my eye. And I can’t forget it. And that’s the worst part,” she said. “I have felt guilty and horrible and ashamed about this and I wasn’t the one who did anything wrong. He put me in a situation, and it’s like what do I do?”
Velsaquez has denied the allegations, saying the exchange never happened.
“The whole Weinstein thing is in the news. Maybe she thinks she can get some traction from it,” Velasquez told Politico. “I don’t want to speculate but I know that she seeks national attention as she’s running for office herself.”
Women have begun coming forward from various walks of life to allege that they have been the victims of sexual harassment. Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein was fired from his company over a series of sexual assault and harassment allegations, which he has denied. Ohio state representatives are undergoing mandatory sexual harassment training after one of their own repeatedly asked a female employee for hugs.
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